Roster numbers grow
The Lakers’ signing Wednesday of their second-round draft pick, Joe Crawford, brings the number of players now under contract to 16. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has stated that the plan is to bring 18 players to training camp, which begins Sept. 30, at the Lakers’…
August 27, 2008, 10:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
It looks like Theo Ratliff will return … to Philly
From Bill Ingram of HOOPSWORLD: Rumors have Theo Ratliff on the verge of signing with the Philadelphia 76ers to replace injured center Jason Smith, and if there’s a big man in the league who has more to prove than Kwame Brown it’s Ratliff. There was a time when Ratliff was thought to be…
August 27, 2008, 9:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Re-thinking old labels
Positions are extremely arbitrary in the NBA. LeBron James is as big as Karl Malone but makes plays like Isiah Thomas … and yet he’s a “small forward?” David Sparks takes arbitrary out of the equation by assigning descriptive labels strictly according to stats — and…
August 27, 2008, 9:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Remember this? Antawn Jamison's Back to Back 51's
Antawn Jamison used to be my favorite player. I even saw him at Stoneridge mall once but didn't bother him. On the court, he's always seemed like a good guy. He's got some funky offensive moves, but he gets it done and puts up the numbers. I was taking a trip down memory lane and remembered…
August 27, 2008, 9:00 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Flip to ATL
Forget Russia, former Piston Flip Murray is going to Atlanta.
August 27, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
OPEN THREAD: Vegas Game 4 - Warriors vs Kings
Warriors (3-0) vs Kings (2-1)Game Time: 7:00p Game 4 of the summer league kicks off tonight against the Kings. Rookie Anthony Randolph should be back in the game after missing the last game with a sprained ankle. Marco played extremely well last game and is, as expected, leading the team in…
August 27, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
More background on Hunter’s legal problems
Dave Dial at MLive’s Full-Court Press has unearthed a little more background on Lindsey Hunter’s brush with the FBI, finding alleged victim Bruce McClellan’s personal account of the story at FlippingFrenzy.com. McClellan describes every step of what went down, and it’s…
August 27, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Kaz: Match or Let Him Walk?
Ever since news dropped that Kelenna Azubuike signed a 3 year/ $9 million offer sheet with the Clippers, I'm not sure how I feel about whether or not we should match the offer or let him walk. I don't think it's a clear cut decision either way because there are so many variables to juggle. For a…
August 27, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Monta out 3 Months
Monta's going to be in street clothes for awhile. Just reported on ESPN.com that Monta Ellis is going to be out at least 3 months! In the latest blow during a difficult summer for Golden State, ESPN.com has learned that Ellis -- just awarded one of the biggest pay raises in league history --…
August 27, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Golden State Of Mind
Lakers hope Crawford isn’t an ‘Average Joe’
There are going to be battles in Lakers camp this year. With Wednesday’s signing of Joe Crawford (check out Janis Carr’s story), the Lakers will have no less than four players (Crawford, Sun Yue, Dwayne Mitchell and Coby Karl) battling for what could be the final roster spot. Floor…
August 27, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Sun Yue not popular with everyone
Seems not everyone is on the Sun Yue bandwagon. Shanghaiist, a Shanghai website, is skeptical about Sun’s ability to find a spot in the Lakers’ crowded backcourt, calling his 6.8 points during the Olympics “pedestrian.” It added that if he does stick around, the…
August 27, 2008, 3:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Surgery date imminent
By the end of this week, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is expected to decide when he will have surgery to repair the ligament damage in his right pinky finger. Bryant initially suffered the injury Feb. 5, in a game against the New Jersey Nets. However, instead of opting to have immediate surgery, Bryant…
August 27, 2008, 3:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
More from Dr. Phil
Phil Jackson had plenty to say during a conversation Monday with University of North Dakota students, faculty and alumni as part of the convocation in which he received an honorary degree. According to the Grand Forks Herald, the Lakers coach spoke about the need for the school to drop its nickname…
August 27, 2008, 2:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
English-only not an option in NBA
Imagine an NBA with English-only speaking players. Imagine the Lakers without their foreign players. Vlade Divac would not have been a Laker nor would have Slava Medvedenko. Even newly-signed Lakers guard Sun Yue of China might not have been given a chance had the NBA adopted the same rules as the…
August 27, 2008, 2:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Mbenga plays waiting game
D.J. Mbenga is looking for a deal. A deal apparently better than the one the Lakers reportedly are offering. According to the Miami Herald, Mbenga, one of several big men to work out with the Heat, has a minimum-level offer to return to the Lakers. According to the report, though, he wants more and…
August 27, 2008, 2:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
The greatest athlete according to Jackson
After receiving an honorary doctor of letters degree from his alma mater, University of North Dakota, Lakers coach Phil Jackson touched upon a range of subjects from the school’s nickname to the greatest athlete he has ever coached. And it wasn’t Michael Jordan. Or Kobe Bryant. Or Shaquille…
August 27, 2008, 2:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Sun Yue signs with Lakers — finally
Sun Yue’s goal was to someday play alongside Kobe Bryant. The Chinese guard will get that chance now that he has signed a multi-year contract with the Lakers. Sun, a 6-foot-9 guard, was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft, but put off signing until after the…
August 27, 2008, 1:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Hold the red, white and blue confetti
Don’t look for any parades or celebratory homecoming party for Kobe Bryant and his gold medal a la Dwyane Wade. The Lakers superstar turned down a chance to show off his hardware and discuss his Olympic experience. The Miami Heat will honor Bryant’s Team USA teammate, Wade, with a…
August 27, 2008, 1:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
No date set
Eventually surgery will have to be performed on Kobe Bryant’s right pinky finger. The procedure is necessary to mend the ligament damage that he incurred during the past NBA season. However, Lakers spokesman John Black reported Monday that Bryant has not decided when he is going to have his…
August 27, 2008, 1:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Obama can play some hoops
Check out the youtube mix tape of presidential hopeful Barack Obama:
August 27, 2008, 12:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe needs to make good on pinkie promise
The Olympics are over and it’s time to start focusing on the upcoming season. And that goes for Kobe Bryant and his pinkie. Bryant put off surgery on his injured right pinkie until after the Olympics, promising that he would be ready to go by training camp. Well, camp opens late September and…
August 27, 2008, 12:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Sun Yue not popular with everyone
Seems not everyone is on the Sun Yue bandwagon. Shanghaiist, a Shanghai website, is skeptical about Sun’s ability to find a spot in the Lakers’ crowded backcourt, calling his 6.8 points during the Olympics “pedestrian.” It added that if he does stick around, the…
August 27, 2008, 12:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Jay Mariotti resigns
Jay Mariotti resigns [Ha! From a Bulls fan's standpoint, this is great news to see the org.-bashing Jordan ass-licking turd gone. Unfortunately his dark apprentice Greg 'I hated Hinrich all along!' Couch will undoubtedly try and pick up the 'slack'. -ed.] and you can read about it in the…
August 27, 2008, 01:45 AM ET from Blog a Bull
Surgery date imminent
By the end of this week, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is expected to decide when he will have surgery to repair the ligament damage in his right pinky finger. Bryant initially suffered the injury Feb. 5, in a game against the New Jersey Nets. However, instead of opting to have immediate surgery, Bryant…
August 27, 2008, 01:45 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
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